What is the cost of living in Clinton, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Clinton has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Clinton has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Clinton ranks as #29 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Clinton ranks as the #130 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Clinton, check out:
Clinton Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Clinton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Clinton is 104.
The Groceries index in Clinton is 95.
The Health index in Clinton is 75.
The Housing index in Clinton is 97.
The Transportation index in Clinton is 101.
The Utilities index in Clinton is 106.
| Living Expense | Clinton | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 75 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 101 | 100 |
Clinton Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Clinton, NC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Clinton is $154,112.
The Median Rent in Clinton is $759.
The Median Income in Clinton is $44,953.
The Home Value To Income in Clinton is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Clinton is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Clinton | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $154,112 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $759 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $44,953 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Clinton, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Clinton Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Clinton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.09 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.27 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $11.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $29.58 | $45.56 |
Detailed Clinton Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Clinton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.93 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.59 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.57 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.18 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.47 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.29 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Clinton Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Clinton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Clinton Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Clinton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Clinton Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Clinton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Clinton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Clinton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Clinton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fayetteville, NC has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Clinton.
Fuquay-Varina, NC has a cost of living index of 112, 1.2x Clinton.
Goldsboro, NC has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Clinton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | 210,815 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 40,485 | 112 | 1.2x |
| Goldsboro, NC | 34,383 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Clayton, NC | 29,320 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Kinston, NC | 19,505 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Lumberton, NC | 18,859 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Hope Mills, NC | 17,939 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Smithfield, NC | 12,116 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Dunn, NC | 8,559 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Selma, NC | 6,817 | 90 | 1.0x |
